LTD Phoenix 200
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 1:24 pm
This is the latest in my series of weird guitars I now own. I didn't even now that these guitars existed until I spotted it up for sale in the GG preowned section. After a little digging I found out its a guitar that had been discontinued but was about to be getting an expensive reissue. There used to be 2 models of these. A budget one (like this) and a swanky version at the thick end of £1k. The new version coming out is also a premium model.
I managed to score it for £265 which I was happy with as it has the Kerry King EMG pickup set/boost in it. I had intended to sell on the pickups if i didn't like them and at the price they sell for the guitar would have owed me pennies if i did end up doing that. I did hesitate a bit as buying modded preowned from a shop can be hit or miss. Luckily the previous owner had installed everything correctly and the guitar was also set up properly so another win there. The only issue is the slightly annoying/OCD inducing exception of them drilling the hole for the boost switch slightly out of line with the other controls. Tho I do plan on getting a black guard for this and redoing the controls in the more standard firebird parallel to the strings style anyway so no biggie.
The guitar is a proper through neck, fit and finish are excellent and the pickups sound AMAZING so they'll be staying. My Gibson Firebird had a better paint job but this is actually a way better guitar.
Things I will update are the pickguard and probably the machine heads to locking Grovers or similar. Everything else is great. The giant Moog knobw will come off too once I find something else I like. I wasn't a fan of the black knurled Tele knobs that were on this.
If you ever have the chance to try/buy one of these I wholeheartedly recommend it. I never thought I'd get to the point where my 3 favourite Gibson style guitars are made by LTD. Pic of the other one (Alex Skolnick sig Silverburst) added at the bottom.
I managed to score it for £265 which I was happy with as it has the Kerry King EMG pickup set/boost in it. I had intended to sell on the pickups if i didn't like them and at the price they sell for the guitar would have owed me pennies if i did end up doing that. I did hesitate a bit as buying modded preowned from a shop can be hit or miss. Luckily the previous owner had installed everything correctly and the guitar was also set up properly so another win there. The only issue is the slightly annoying/OCD inducing exception of them drilling the hole for the boost switch slightly out of line with the other controls. Tho I do plan on getting a black guard for this and redoing the controls in the more standard firebird parallel to the strings style anyway so no biggie.
The guitar is a proper through neck, fit and finish are excellent and the pickups sound AMAZING so they'll be staying. My Gibson Firebird had a better paint job but this is actually a way better guitar.
Things I will update are the pickguard and probably the machine heads to locking Grovers or similar. Everything else is great. The giant Moog knobw will come off too once I find something else I like. I wasn't a fan of the black knurled Tele knobs that were on this.
If you ever have the chance to try/buy one of these I wholeheartedly recommend it. I never thought I'd get to the point where my 3 favourite Gibson style guitars are made by LTD. Pic of the other one (Alex Skolnick sig Silverburst) added at the bottom.
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